Mumbai: 26-year-old mentally ill inmate commits suicide in Arthur Road jail by hanging himself

Mumbai: A 26-year-old inmate of Arthur Road jail committed suicide on Monday morning by hanging himself inside the jail premises. The inmate, Sabir Ali Garibullah Shaikh, was undergoing psychiatric treatment. Shaikh had been arrested by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation police station and was awaiting his trial. He hanged himself from a door inside a separate cell with a bedsheet.

“The suicide came to light after one of the guards spotted his body dangling from the door. Shaikh was kept in a separate cell intended for inmates requiring psychiatric help,’’ said a jail official. According to Ahmad Pathan, Senior Police Inspector, NM Joshi Marg police station, “Shaikh was mentally ill and had attempted suicide in January as well. However, he was saved by the guards. He was undergoing psychiatric treatment for the last three months and lodged in the jail for the past three and a half years.

Shaikh was arrested by the MIDC police for three cases of murder(Section 302), attempt to murder (Section 307), voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Sections 324 and 326), wrongful confinement (Section 342) and rioting (Section 147) of the Indian Penal Code. He was in judicial custody. The N.M. Joshi Marg police have registered a case. “We are investigating the exact reason for the suicide. No suicide note has been found, “added the officer.